SERIOUS FLOOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 10

SERIOUS FLOOD

HAWKE'S BAY AREA TOWNSHIPS ISOLATED RIVER BREAKS BAMS ROADS IMPASSABLE RAIN STILL PALLING [by telegraph OWN correspondent] NAPIER, Sunday Heavy rain, which commenced on Thursday night and has fallen almost continuously since, has caused extensive flooding in Northern Hawke's Bay, and rain is still falling heavily. Flood conditions took a serious turn at 10.45 to-night, when the Tutaekuri River broke both its banks at Meeanee, about seven miles from Napier. Tho water is backing up badly there. The Puketapu flats, nine miles from Napier, are covered with water and it is reported that conditions there aro tho worst ever known. Settlers in tho low-lying country had all taken tho precaution to remove stock to higher land and the extent of stock losses that may have occurred is not yet known. Rain, which has been practically xmiversal throughout Hawke's Bay after a long period of dry weather, was still falling heavily at midnight.

Rivers Rise Rapidly The rivers, particularly the TutaeJuiri, which flows near Napier, and the Ngaruroro, which flows out between Napier and Hastings, commenced to rise early yesterday morning. Following continued rain, they became m high flood to-day. At 7 o'clock this evening the Tutaekuri, from which most trouble was anticipated, was overflowing its banks 011 either side in the vicinity of the Meeanee township. Fears were ■ repressed at this stage as to whether the banks would withstand the strain, jis during previous floods they had given away frequently. These fears were realised about 10 o'clock to-night, when breaks occurred 011 both sides of the river, one of them being a chain long, but, owing to tSw darkness, it was not possible to ascertain the dimensions of the other. When the water broke through it flowed on to the low-lying country in the Meeanee basin 011 the one side and on to the Papakura Flats on the other, but the area covered was nob ascertainable this evening. Wo Details of Losses On the Meeanee side, the northern side of the river, the water covers the road to a depth of three to four feet and houses are isolated. Taradale and other townships further tip the river, are isolated bv road, the three different routes being under water to a similar depth. There has also been a break in the bank at Puketapu, still further upstream, and the water has reached an unprecedented depth. Knowing the proclivities of the rivers settlers throughout Northern Hawke's Bay took the precaution on Friday and yesterday of removing their stock in low-lying areas to higher ground, but it is also stated that in some instances flood waters have reached the higher levels. Definite details of any stock losses are not awiilable, but it is understood there some sheep and cattle have been drowned by the rapidly rising flood.'

Homesteads in the flooded area are surrounded by water, and in some cases it has entered the houses. It is not thought that many of these have had to bo deserted by their occupants. Blockage of Roads The roads, of course, in the Meeanee and Taradale districts and also toward Pakowhai, are impassable on account of flood waters, and road communication in other instances is interrupted on account of slips. The NapierWairoa road is blocked at the Devil's Elbow, slips having come down over a three-mile stretch. The .last car to-day to get through this road was the mail car, which made the trip only after a great deal of difficulty. Private car owner from both the Wairoa and Napier ends of the route had no success. There are also isolated instances of slips further north, particularly in the Matahoura Gorge. Napier-Taupo Route Late this afternoon similar, though less serious, conditions prevailed on the Napier-Taupo Road. A private car reached Napier about six o'clock after the driver had experienced considerable difficulty, and he did not anticipate that the road would be open for any great_ length of time after he passed over it. This was confirmed by a later report which stated that a rather extensive slip had occurred north of Te Pohue, 30 miles from Napier, while other slips had also occurred nearer tho sea. Clearing operations have been commenced on both these roads hut doubt is expressed as to whether they will he open for traffic to-morrow. The mail* south road from Napier is not affected io any great extent by the weather. DAMAGE IN OPOTIKI TREES AND FENCES SUFFER [by TELEGRAPH OWN- correspondent] OPOTIKI, Saturday A gale of exceptional violence blew in Opotiki all yesterday and well into the night, the wind being of a force not felt here for many years. / Largo numbers of trees have been blown down in the district and fences als:> have suffered. Tops have been blown off scores of haystacks, and ninny sheds have been unroofed. A large lorry, which was standing in Church . Street, was blown across tho street, coming to rest against a car. Fortunately most of tho maize crop lias been gathered, what was not gathered suffering considerably. Verv little rain fell, but the weather now is very much colder. A largo tree, which was blown across the Waioeka Road, delayed traffic for an hour this morning, but the read is now clear. HEAVY RAIN CEASES RIV-Ell LEVELS FALLING [by telegraph—PßESS association] GISBORNE, Sunday The •weather this morning improved considerably and since then only an occasional light sliower lias been experienced. The rivers are falling slowly and .unless further heavy falls occur tho ) flood danger is past. .